Masako Natsume joined the 27 club on September 11, 1985. The cause of death is recorded as: Acute myeloid leukemia
Masako Natsume, born as Masako Odate on December 17, 1957, in Shibuya, Tokyo, was a Japanese actress who gained worldwide recognition for her captivating performances, particularly her portrayal of Tripitaka in the TV series "Monkey."
Natsume's acting career began when she auditioned for the lead role in Nihon TV's drama "Ai ga miemasu ka" ("Can you see love?") in 1976. She was chosen from an impressive pool of 4,000 applicants and dropped out of school to pursue her acting dreams. Her mother initially objected to her choice but later allowed her to change her name to Natsume to avoid using the Odate family name if she gained further work.
Natsume's career took off when she was chosen to represent Kanebo Cosmetics in 1977, appearing topless as the "Kooky Face" girl in a sunscreen ad. This publicity led her to record a song called "Oh! Cookie Face." She continued to appear in bit parts and a few leads in movies but primarily worked in television. In 1978-79, she played the male part of Tripitaka (Sanzō-hōshi) in the Japanese TV program "Saiyūki," which later gained popularity outside Japan when dubbed by the BBC and titled "Monkey."
Natsume was often criticized for her poor acting as a well-bred but shy heroine. However, she changed public perception with her roles in the TV drama "Shousha" and the movie "Onimasa," where she portrayed an ambitious and immoral woman and the daughter of a yakuza leader, respectively. One of her lines from this movie, "Don't you look down on me!" became a popular catchphrase in Japan. She won the award for best actress at the 8th Hochi Film Award for "The Catch" and "Time and Tide."
Tragically, Natsume died from acute leukemia at the age of 27 in 1985. She married Japanese author Tadaki Nishiyama shortly before her death and is buried under the married name Masako Nishiyama in Hōfu, Yamaguchi. Natsume's legacy continues to live on through various tributes and adaptations of her work. In 1997, Canon produced a television commercial featuring her photocopied images that received over 230,000 applications. Masako Natsume picture books and calendars remain popular in Japan today. Additionally, there is a cancer organization named The Sunflower Foundation dedicated to Natsume. In popular culture, the Japanese anime series "Mawaru-Penguindrum" features a character named Masako Natsume.